Chores and Maintenance:
- Finish preparation of planting beds
- Continue to cultivate planting beds and carefully remove young weeds
- Dig and divide early-blooming perennials after flowering
- Lift, divide and replant late summer and fall-blooming perennials
- Set supports for floppy plants, vines and vegetables
- Mow lawns regularly to keep grass at 2½ inch height
- Begin watering program as necessary
- Continue weeding
- Aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition
- Mulch azaleas, rhododendrons, and other ericaceous ornamentals with acid mulch
- Mulch planting beds
- Deadhead bulbs but allow foliage to remain until yellow to nourish bulbs for next year’s display
- As night temperatures moderate into the 60’s, move houseplants outdoors (avoid full sun and windy locations)
- Look for pests and other problems; spotting early can mean fewer chemical controls. Note: slugs and caterpillars can be removed manually
- Begin application of deer repellents
Planting:
- Move self-sown annuals and perennials to desired locations
- Sow seeds of corn, cucumber and melon directly in the garden
- Harden off tomato, eggplant and pepper transplants before planting out at end of month
- Complete planting deciduous trees and shrubs, weather and soil conditions permitting
- Continue to plant and transplant perennials
- Plant summer annuals after last frost date
- Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as gladiolas and dahlias after last frost date
- Plant caladium and tuberous begonias in shady spots
- Complete reseeding bare lawn areas
Pruning/Composting:
- Pinch back late summer and fall-blooming perennials
- Continue to prune all plant material to remove any diseased, dead, weak or crossing branches
- Prune early spring-flowering shrubs after blooming
- Wait to prune evergreens, hedges and other shrubs until late spring into early summer
- Begin deadheading roses
- Add compost/organic fertilizer to roses
- Fertilize needle evergreens with organic acid type fertilizer
- Compost/fertilize bulbs as they finish blooming
- Compost/fertilize annuals and container plants
Related articles
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Thanks for the list! Now I don’t have to write one myself–all the more time saved for actually being in the garden.
You are very welcome! 🙂
I feel exhausted – hehe!
Me too! 🙂
Now I just need to findthe time to begin. 🙂
I know… But it gives me something to shoot for!! 🙂
And I always forget the right times to prune, fertilize, etc.
Your list is really a good idea. It gives others something to follow. I love the name of your blog. I love bees in the garden and plant much to attract them in my garden too.
Thank you for the compliments and thank you for planting a bee-friendly garden!! 🙂
Your list reminds me of chores I’ve conveniently ‘forgot’ i.e., weeding and mulching my walkways. Not my fav tasks.
Nor mine. This is when Itunes comes in handy… 🙂
Who knew that a never ending list of chores could result in such joy….
What a big list! 😀 Good luck with it all 🙂 x
Thanks! 🙂
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